Mandela named Newsmaker of 2013

Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela has been named the National Press Club's Newsmaker of the Year for 2013, the club said on Wednesday.

“Nelson Mandela’s death riveted the attention of the world for 10 days,” chairperson Jos Charle said in a statement.

“It consumed South Africans, and much of the world, as the country pulled out all stops to bury the father of the South African nation with military precision and ancient Xhosa customs.”

Mandela died in Johannesburg on December 5 and was buried in Qunu, the Eastern Cape, on December 15.

The award is made based on impact, news value and attention given in electronic, print, online, and social media.

The club has named Nelson Mandela as its newsmaker before. Previous recipients include President Jacob Zuma, former presidents FW de Klerk, and Thabo Mbeki, actress Charlize Theron, Eskom, EFF leader Julius Malema and, in 2012, the South African rhino.